BoxRec

Paulie Hyland rejects showdown with Alexei Acosta and signs to fight fellow Dub in Battle of the Liberties II

Anthony Fitzgerald is signed to fight for the EBA middleweight title against former Andy Lee Fanz and Darren Barker foe, Affif Belgcaham

Great fight for Fitzgerald,will be great test.

I heard that Fitzgerald might try to line up a fight with Belgecham but I thought it was just talk. Fitzgerald may find this to be a huge step up.

I watched Andy Lee make the Frenchman into a punching bag for 8 rounds in Limerick and easily outpoint him over the 10 but the Frenchman had a plan to weather the storm, tire Andy and come on strong late (which he did and had Andy looking for the final bell to ring).
The problem was that the Frenchman didnt throw a punch for those 8 rounds and Andy has such reach that it was like getting shot at from a distance. Fitzy wont have that kind of reach and power. I expect the very tough Belgacham to be a different man against the Pride.

Do I understand right that Hyland pulled out of the Acosta fight? If so im not surprised, it seemed mad to fight a fighter like Acosta after being stopped by Casey in his last fight. An easier opponent will do Hylands confidence a favour.

Yeah its definately a very tough fight and a massive massive step up for Fitzer.

I have been pretty critical of his matchmaking in the past, so much so that I was even on the end of a minor tongue lashing from his matchmaker when I visited Fitzers gym after Christmas.

But to be fair they were talking about a fight with Kevin Hammond for the WBF Intercontinental title as though he was unifying the division. I dont like these titles, never have never will, they are bad for boxing, et cetera et cetera.

I thought he should have given Ciaran Healy a rematch or fighting Joe Rea for his Irish title.

But hats off to him for taking this fight against Affif, he gave Lee trouble in the last round of their fight and many people think he took a share of the fight with Barker.

Again its for the EBA European title and not the EBU, its a marketing ploy by DolPhil to say that its a European title which in Ireland is a very big honour, more so than it is in UK because their national title carries so much prestige and also its puts the winner in the top 15 of the WBA.

But fair play to him and DolPhil. DolPhil have shown they are not shy of taking big risks.

Great fight for Fitzgerald, he has improved immensely over the past 12 months or so although Healy could have easily got the nod against him. Even though the fight against Hammond was for a mickey-mouse title, it showed Fitzer the 12 round distance which can only count for him.

Belghecam will more than likely be the favourite in this one. Father time is closing in on his career and having not won since mid 2009 his confidence might be a bit shot where as Fitz is on a roll but doesn't have the experience of the French man. A win for the Dubliner would surely get him into the EBU rankings. If Belghecam fights as decent as he did against Barker, he will get the decision comfortably, anything less than that and Fitzer could pull it off by a round or two.

Fair play to Fitzgerald and I hope that he is in the mood to prove me wrong but Im very worried that he will be way out of his depth with Belgecham.
Belgecham may have lost a few recently but look at who he has lost to! They are some of the best middleweights in the world Andy Lee, Darren Barker and World No5 N'Jikam.
Belgecham has been fighting regularly, he is tough (very tough) match fit and was competitive (in bursts) against all of the men I listed and he went the rounds with each.

I like the attitude of Dolphil fighters they would take on King Kong but I cant see Fitzgerald winning this one

I can't disagree, Broc. Belghecam really impressed against Barker and as I said, if he fights that way again he will beat Fitz comfortably. It's his most recent outing which may indicate he is starting to slide. He was beaten in a French Middleweight fight by J.M Sainte who is far from being a top middleweight despite a decieving record. I can't find any footage of that fight but it would be interesting to see how Belghecam boxed.